ABOUT TORONTO

Toronto is a world-class city, on par with New York City, San Francisco, and Chicago when it comes to cultural attractions and urban sophistication. Toronto is a great destination for singles, families, and executives. It is clean, safe, and easy to navigate, with a network of beautiful pedestrian pathways and an world-class public transportation system.

The IFA 14th Global Conference on Ageing will be held from August 8-10, 2018 at Ryerson University in the very heart of downtown Toronto. The Ryerson campus is a beautiful, sprawling green space, standing right at the centre of the bustling core of the city. It’s a stone’s throw from many of Toronto’s most notable landmarks. Do some shopping at the luxurious Eaton Centre, pick up some fresh produce at Maple Leaf Gardens, or wander through the summertime flowers at Allan Gardens Conservatory. The rest of the city is easily accessible via the campus’s subway stations, streetcar lines, and bus routes.

The best place to start is at the top – and in Toronto, there’s no mistaking where the top is. The CN Tower is the tallest free-standing structure in North America, and a vital telecommunications hub. Ride the elevator to the tower’s summit and take in gorgeous views of the city.

The CN Tower sits on the shores of Lake Ontario, where you can explore many of the opportunities Toronto has to offer. At the Rogers Centre, you can catch a Toronto Blue Jays baseball game in the summer, or attend a high-profile rock concert. Finally, the newly opened Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada sits at the base of the CN Tower, a must-see for families and marine biology lovers alike.

Art lovers will want to explore the Royal Ontario Museum, the largest museum in Canada, which boasts a fascinating collection of archaeology and natural history exhibits. The Art Gallery of Ontario offers a broad variety of European and Canadian works, and a finely curated series of rotating exhibitions and events.

Toronto’s Harbourfront gives you opportunities to escape the hustle and bustle of city life, with a bevy of unique shops and fine dining on beautiful Lake Ontario. Enjoy a stroll on the boardwalk, and take in breathtaking views of the skyline, and hop on a ferry to the Toronto Islands, a beloved picnic spot with sandy beaches and winding bike trails.

Best of all, Niagara Falls is a mere ninety minutes from the heart of downtown Toronto. Honeymoon clichés notwithstanding, this is a don’t-miss spot. The true essence of Niagara Falls has been the same for centuries: it’s simply an awe-inspiring spot to experience the raw power of nature. As Charles Dickens once wrote, during a visit to the Falls, “It would be harder for a man to stand nearer to God than he does here.” Like Dickens, modern visitors not only see, hear, and feel the power created each second when 739,682 gallons of Niagara River water roars over the edge of Horseshoe Falls and plummets nearly thirteen storeys to a pool below. Adventurous visitors can explore tunnels behind the Falls for intimate encounters with the veil of water, or boat a boat with Hornblower Niagara Cruises for a spray-soaked route to the base of the Falls.

For more information about getting around Toronto, as well as what’s happening in the city during the 14th Global Conference on Ageing, please click here to visit the IFA’s Tourism Toronto site.